Wayne Swan
Wayne Swan's only regret about attacking billionaires Clive Palmer, Gina Rinehart and Andrew Forrest in an article in The Monthly earlier this year is that he did not go in hard enough.
Every criticism he made about some of Australia's ''wealthiest and most outspoken mining tycoons'' has been ''played out almost to the letter'', he will say in tonight's John Button lecture in Melbourne, declaring defiantly that ''I don't regret a word of it''.
''In the face of all this, we have to stand up and be heard, because when the massively wealthy buy the loudest megaphones, the voices of the people are drowned out,'' Mr Swan will say.
In a personal speech, he will also talk about his passion for Bruce Springsteen's music, and his hope that the Australian economy doesn't go down the same path as the American economy.
''Don't let Australia become a Down Under version of New Jersey, where the people and the communities whose skills are no longer in demand get thrown on the scrap heap of life.''
An extract from tonight's speech can be read here.
The acting Prime Minister will take part in a live chat here today from 11.15am to midday, and debate his Button lecture with readers.
Leave your questions here.